Page 19 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

“Something the matter, Allison?” He taunted her. He knew she’d bite and when he saw that fire return to her eyes he couldn’t help himself. He smirked at her.

She sat up straight, facing him head on. “No, Angelo. Everything is fine.” Her voice dropped slightly when she said his name, as if she was afraid to actually say it out loud. He growled deep in his chest, the sound slipping out when he heard the tiny word fall from her mouth.

How does my name sound so good when it comes from her lips?

He cleared his throat to cover up the sound, but he caught the look that crossed her face. She’d heard it.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, lost in a bubble of their own. His mind suddenly filled with images of her belly swollen with his child, imagining the gentle curve and the life they had created together. The thought sent a wave of heat down his spine. In just a few months, she was going to look that way, embodying the profound changes their actions had brought into their lives.

God, how am I going to make it through this without touching this woman?

“Have you gone to the doctor yet?” he questioned, trying desperately to rid his mind of those unholy images that had taken root there. She looked away, lifting her latte to her lips for a quick sip, as if the warm drink could soothe her nerves.

“No.”

An ice-cold fire surged through his veins, coursing beneath his skin. “What do you mean ‘no’? You’ve known you’re pregnant for… how long exactly?”

She sighed again, the spark that once danced in her eyes now flickering out. Taking a deep breath, she seemed to brace herself for an uncomfortable conversation.

“My symptoms started last week, and I took the test a few days ago, Angelo,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. She still didn’t meet his eyes, but despite the weight of her revelation, he felt a glimmer of relief wash over him. It meant he hadn’t missed anything crucial; they still had time to figure this out together.

“You need to visit the OB-GYN. You know you do, Allison.” His voice was soft, like she was a puppy he didn’t want to frighten. Because this woman was anything but stupid, she knew she needed to start taking care of this baby. She was just scared.

“Would you…” she trailed off for a moment, and his heart stopped, hoping she’d say what he thought she would.

“I can come with you. If you’d like that,” Angelo supplied for her when it didn’t look like she’d continue. “I’d like to be there every step of the way, Allison.”

She met his gaze, searching for sincerity in those deep brown eyes. “You really mean that?”

“Of course,” he said, his expression unwavering. “I’m not going anywhere. Not now, not ever.”

The tension around them softened as a small smile tugged at her lips, but it was quickly replaced by uncertainty. “It’s just… I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Trust me,” he said, leaning in slightly, “you’re not a burden. You’re a lot of things, but a burden is not one of them. You’re going to be an amazing mom, and if you let me, I’ll be an amazing partner in this.”

She hesitated, contemplating the weight of his words. “What if the doctor says something I don’t want to hear?”

Angelo reached across the table, his fingers brushing against hers. “Then we’ll deal with it together. One step at a time. Likewe’re in some kind of buddy cop movie where the fate of the world depends on us, only instead of saving the world, we’ll be saving your sanity.”

Allison chuckled softly, probably picturing them in matching leather jackets, chasing down rogue prenatal vitamins. “You think we’ll have to confront a villain or something?”

“Absolutely,” he said, grinning. “I can already imagine it. You, with your fierce determination, and me, the sidekick who cracks terrible jokes at the worst moments. Together, we’ll take down any bad news that dares to show up.”

“Okay, maybe that doesn’t sound too terrible,” she admitted, her laughter bubbling up like the froth on a fresh latte.

She smiled at him, and his heart raced at the sight, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. Her eyes sparkled with an intensity that took his breath away. They were an extraordinary shade of green, vibrant and alive, like sunlight filtering through a lush forest. He felt an overwhelming urge to dive into their depths, to lose himself in the mysteries they held, surrendering to their pull. It was as if he could float in that gaze forever, forgetting the world around him, completely content to drown in their brilliance and never resurface for air.

He strained to think of a way to escape, to halt this downward spiral. Angelo was determined not to yield to this woman’s influence. His control was paramount—it belonged to him and him alone.

“Give me your phone,” he ordered. It was a habit for him, after having every business principle ingrained in him. Her face lit up in curiosity, but she handed over the device anyway.

He looked for his contact, chuckling to himself as he changed the name in her phone and handed it back to her.

“Seriously? You put yourself down as ‘Daddy’?” she exclaimed, a mix of horror and amusement crossing her face. But the slight grin tugging at her lips betrayed her true feelings—she liked it.

Angelo shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Well, I am the baby daddy,” he replied, his voice dripping with playful bravado.

Allison snickered, shaking her head in disbelief, and suddenly, he felt an overwhelming swell of pride.

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